transcriptions

[birba]

this is probably intended for Thalberg who is a "hack transcription pianist" as he identified himself once...
In December I'm supposed to accompany a soprano in an all Puccini recital including lesser known chamber songs.  We had an idea for me to play the intermezzo from Manon Lescaut, which isn't bad considering the verismo which I usually hate.  I've been trying to create some sort of transcription working on the Ricordi score as a base.  I haven't been writing down ideas at the moment, just playing through it and trying to "jazz" it up a bit.  But I always come to an impasse.  How do YOU do it?  Do you write it down as you go? Do you just improvise around until you get something?  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[communist]

try to copy the harmonies but slightly change the rhythms and have a different chord progression but to the degree so its undoubtfully the same piece.